Abstract
In recent yearws, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a major shift in Higher Education. More than twenty universities' campuses are under construction throughout the whole Kingdom. The campus area of these universities rages from 12 to 21 square km. The huge area of the campus requires a special consideration of various complex and interrelated issues at the design development stage; e.g. environmental, social, cultural, and technical. All these issues have to be carefully undertaken on both 'Master' and detailed 'Action' design levels; that is at the university campus's urban environment and at the open space level. In addition to that, infrastructure, services, and supporting facilities, etc. should be considered as they are intersecting with the urban design process of the university project's development. Of major concern is how these complex and interrelated issues can be addressed at the level of open, public spaces of the university campus to achieve a better educational, human and sustainable environment.
In this paper the role of landscape architecture design in enhancing open spaces of universities' campuses is discussed and presented. Comprehensive literature review has been conducted to identify the various aspects/requirements of sound Landscape Architecture design of open spaces within universities' campuses. These requirements were examined in the research case study which is University of Dammam. Results and findings of the case study applications have been illustrated as an example to support the research arguments. An analysis, conclusion and practical recommendations have been set up at the end of the research.